FIRST TEAM
04/02/2013

Markus Gisdol takes over - Andreas Müller and Marco Kurz released

Markus Gisdol will be the new manager of TSG 1899 Hoffenheim. The 43-year-old takes over with immediate effect and has been entrusted by the board to lead TSG through a backroom revamp for this season and beyond.

Sporting director Andreas Müller, manager Marco Kurz, as well as his assistant Günther Gorenzel, were relieved of their duties on Tuesday. Alexander Rosen, who has until now been in charge of the youth development centre, will take a newly created role, “head of professional football”, and will fulfil the managerial duties in the ‘licensed players department'.

“As a club, we have decided to undergo a systematic and comprehensive reconstruction. In view of doing that we contacted Markus Gisdol. He knows the club and the structural setup from his time here as the U23s manager. We have a huge sporting challenge ahead of us and we give Markus Gisdol our complete trust,” said Frank Briel, director of sport and finance.

Peter Hofmann, president of TSG 1899 Hoffenheim: “We want to go back to our roots – the things that made TSG 1899 Hoffenheim strong and attracted national attention.” The focus on a philosophy which keeps the integration of young talent at its core is something that Alexander Rosen's new role will cover. Shareholder Dietmar Hopp: “Alexander Rosen is part of the identity-establishing and sustainable road that TSG wants to go down, one that we have not consistently stuck to in the past.”

Before the last matchday, Hoffenheim made an inquiry about Markus Gisdol and after the 3-0 defeat, the decision was made to appoint him. The new manager must get to grips with the club as quickly as possible in order to find the key to a successful spell in the job. The club wants to pool its resources so as to realise the realistic aim of staying in the division.

“The focus,“ said Dietmar Hopp in relation to TSG's goals, “irrespective of how this season pans out, is on Financial Fairplay. We want to produce talent in order to offer attractive football to both existing and new fans again. We want to establish ourselves on a progressive path.”

Frank Briel: “We regret the developments that led to us dismissing Andreas Müller and Marco Kurz but we'd like to thank them for their commitment to the club.“

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